Trump Signals Support For Kevin McCarthy As Speaker

At a private fundraiser at his namesake hotel, President Trump on Thursday night appeared to back Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to be the next Speaker, several attendees told The Hill.

Speaking to high-dollar donors and House GOP lawmakers, Trump wished retiring Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) well, then turned to a different table, pointed at McCarthy, and said he looks forward to working with McCarthy next.

Several lawmakers in the room said they interpreted Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks to mean that he was supporting McCarthy, the No. 2 GOP leader, to succeed Ryan as Speaker of the House next year.